Not At Any Price

Why risk lives of soldiers to capture terrorists who will be released later on?

Lately I've been preparing for the sixth yahrtzeit of my daughter Tal Kerman, who was killed in a terror attack in Sderot Moria, Haifa. I am against the notion that every bereaved parent has "the right" or the privilege to have his words given priority over others'. But unlike the average citizen who did not pay the price of the omissions that caused my daughter's death, I do pay this price every day and hope other parents will not have to go through the same experience.

The release of terrorists and our surrender to terrorism will only bring more death and bereavement to our society.

Yet Tal's death does not give my two living children immunity against being terror victims in the next terror attacks. Furthermore, the massive release of terrorists and our surrender to terrorism will only bring more death and bereavement to our society.

When debating the possibility of releasing 1,400 terrorists from jail -- some of whom killed and others caught before succeeding in doing so, it is easy to picture in our mind the image of the abducted soldier. But we do not see the future terror victims who may be killed as a result of this exchange deal.

Before the president or the prime minister make their decision, I would like to clarify some important issues that may have been disregarded due to our strong will to release our soldier.

We must not ignore the significant efforts and the security officials who risked their lives: Members of the intelligence, the Shin Bet, IDF etc., who worked very hard to catch these murderers and potential murderers. These agents have risked their lives to capture wanted terrorists; some were killed during their mission.

After their arrests, the long and trying legal processes began. All apprehended prisoners were granted fair trials, which terror victims were never granted and future terror victims never will. Many precious hours of the legal system were spent in order to bring them to justice. It was not enough to bring them to justice in the lower courts, since they were given the right to appeal before being sentenced.

What's the point in risking the lives of security personnel, spending days and hours on trials, and then releasing them right after a deal is signed?

Motivating new generation of terrorists

The security establishment has warned time and again of prisoners' release and claimed that 60% of the released prisoners will resume their terror activities, being more skilled and dangerous after spending time in jail. How will the prime minister be able to command the security forces to catch these murderers in the future? Will his conscious allow him to send these soldiers to enemy territory in order to prevent the next terror attack that will be planned by them?

The release of prisoners who did not serve their full sentence in jail raises their status within Palestinian society and motivates a new terror generation that disregards the Israeli security and legal establishment.

The victory in the Cast Lead operation was not completed. There are other ways to release our abducted soldier that are more compatible with the rules of the game in our region. Our hesitance and lack of determination are seen by our enemies as weakness - and the weak always lose.

Yes, we can see and hear the abducted soldier; but the next victims are yet to have body and form, and we do not know their identity yet.

Soldiers fight in order to protect citizens' lives. Unfortunately, sometimes they get killed while doing so. The soldiers are those who should sacrifice their lives for civilians, not the other way around. By releasing terrorists in exchange for our soldiers we are reversing the right order. Seventy five percent of those who were killed by released terrorists were civilians, and it may well be the same in the future.

Visitor Comments: 20

(19)
Laurie,
October 18, 2011 8:20 PM

Two Sides

AISH, you've printed two articles that present the view that the exchange was a mistake. I'd like to see you print an article that lays out the reasons for the agreement and expresses the reasons that the government made it. Almost 80% of Israelis support the agreement, so there IS a legitimate basis for offering such an opinion piece.

(18)
greg,
March 17, 2009 12:50 PM

justice

Being a soldier has inherant risks. I watched the last time Israel received corpses in exchange for functional terrorists, I marveled at the absurdity.
The whole process stripped those dead soldiers of their dignity. The arabs viewed it as victory. There will never be peace with the arabs, only an escalation in the mode of terrorism. Are your leaders waitng for a suitcase nuke to accept reality? I'm a nurse, and my observation of man without G-D is we are simply beasts. I certainly don't have the answers, but you are G-D'S chosen and I sense his wrath is coming, so hang in there and pray for your soldiers.

(17)
helen porath,
March 15, 2009 4:20 PM

get shalit home asap

It should have been obvious, when we passed life sentences on those terrorists, that efforts would be made to get them released(such as kidnappings)It's too late now to worry about what they will do if they are released. The bereaved parents of victims of terror should have demonstrated for the death penalty for these terrorists.What galut Jews we are, that we would rather let one of our own people die, than punish those who harm us.
We showed mercy to these murderers, and this is our reward.We should have immediately stopped all visits and all privileges to the prisoners and all "humanitarian" gestures to all of them. One day, I suppose, we'll learn.
Gilead Shalit was serving in our Army, and was obviously ordered to be where he was by his Commander.He was sent to the wrong place at the wrong timeHe wasn't on holday. I feel personally responsible that we haven't got him back yet. I regret the lives of the soldiers who were returned to us as corpses I pray for the safe return of Gilead Shalit.

(16)
LES LE GEAR,
March 14, 2009 9:33 AM

No prisoners

I don''t understand why terrorists are taken prisoner in the first place. They
are not innocent, as they have been caught in terrorist acts. Kill them on the spot and you won''t have to worry about releasing them at a later date for the remains of dead Jews. As for the the Israeli prisoner, it''s better to write him off as dead, because it''s unlikely that he''ll ever be released. And it''s not worth trading him for hundreds of murderers who will undoubtably target new victims.

Anonymous,
October 18, 2011 5:08 PM

KEEPING THEM ALIVE IS ONLY COSTING THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT MONEY AND GIVING THE ARABS A REASON TO CAPTURE OUR SOLDIERS

(15)
Joel,
March 13, 2009 6:21 PM

How About....

How about shipping those 1,400 animals to the Gitmo prison in Cuba? The US President wants to make it vacant.

(14)
Yehudis,
March 13, 2009 12:32 PM

Kol ha'kavod! Great article.

(13)
Jeanette Dahlin,
March 13, 2009 7:39 AM

Deterrent?

I have a hard time with death penalty in usa society- but isn't it worth the deterrent factor - in the mideast situation - to future terrorists - not all islamists will commit terrorism if they know that the punishment is death. And these prisoners will not be rehabilitated to be good citizens - they were born, and raised to be nothing but terrorists.

(12)
Miriam,
March 12, 2009 6:27 AM

You make alot of sense in your article. A very great Rabbi who was kidnapped and to be executed years ago, I think in Europe, instructed his people not to pay the ransom, as it encourages more kidnappings. Yet, we can't help thinking of Gilad, and wondering how we could possibley leave him there. This decision seems too weighty and complex to be made by human minds. Only G-d Himself knows the answer. The Torah is the mind of G-d, and those who study huge amounts of Torah, eventually have their own mind think like that of G-d Himself. Maybe you should speak to Rabbi Steinman and Rabbi Elyashiv and ask them their opinions. If they agree with you, the government may follow their opinion. May G-d comfort you among the mourners of Zion.

(11)
Anonymous,
March 12, 2009 2:58 AM

let's email foreign heads of state instead of the Israeli P.M.

Let's start an email campaign, or an online petition aimed at FOREIGN dignitaries to pressure Hamas to free Gilad so that Israel can in turn, but ONLY in turn open up some of the border crossings which would ease some of the suffering of the Palestinians.

(10)
Anonymous,
March 12, 2009 1:15 AM

Caught between 2 opposing thoughts

On the 1 hand I agree strongly with Sharon (with 1 small difference in opinion) that the keeping of these jailed terrorists where they are is the second (my opinion) best way to avoid the possibility of further deaths at their hands but on the other hand it is interesting to note the difference in value placed on the objects of "THE DEAL" ie: l soldier for 1400 prisoners (name witheld for reasons of security)

(9)
Monica,
March 11, 2009 6:58 PM

Death penalty

This is exactly why Israel should institute the death penalty. That way those who were given a fair trail & deemed to have "blood on their hands" can not be used later as a bargaining chip to be released & will never have to oppurtunity to strike again.

(8)
Dvirah,
March 11, 2009 11:23 AM

Alternatives to Capture?

The jailed terrorists are also a great drain on Israel's resources...every day that they remain in our custody. What alternatives to capture of a terrorist can stop one...? Is the spiritual price of safety too high?

(7)
Linda,
March 11, 2009 10:51 AM

the same conflict here

It seems we have the same thing going on here in the states, we have the delema of releasing those terrists in Gitmo to where? would it matter? unless they are put away for life or executed, don't think for one minute they won't be back out there trying to distroy others, there in the camp if left to talk together, they will be plotting more evil.
If it was one of our soldiers they had conficated, they would alreaady have their heads buried in the desert. they would have no mercy on us. but we as democracys, want to do what is fair to all.
If we would act like them there would be no hope. Love to Israel, and it's people.

(6)
SarahRachel,
March 11, 2009 10:27 AM

Leaving Them In Prison Doesn't Protect Citizens Either

The prisons are training grounds for new and more efficient ways to murder innocent citizens. The prisons are terrorist networks, period. The prisons provide elevated martyr status of a sort as well for the terrorists.
The one and ONLY way to stop terrorism is to eliminate the terrorists when they are caught.
Until the world wakes up to this, the terrorists will continue to take advantage of the court systems and the prisons to further their own murderous agendas and many, many more innocent civilians will die.

(5)
David Cohen,
March 11, 2009 9:29 AM

Another problem

Another reason why releasing hundreds of terrorists for a single Israeli soldier (or a few) is hugely problematic, is that it reinforces the popularly held, false international view that these are not really terrorists with blood on their hands being held in Israeli prisons, but innocent Palestinians who were apprehended for minor infractions and given unnaturally long prison sentences by an oppressive occupying power. When you're willing to release 1,400 of them for one soldier, the world says, "I guess all those prisoners must not have been in prison for very good reason."

(4)
ruth housman,
March 11, 2009 5:33 AM

a life for a life?

This is a most painful deliberation and I do see the equation is on the side of holding the captured terrorists and not striking this kind of bargain.
I wish we were not given such terrible things to contemplate in life and I mourn the loss of your daughter.
I feel for the captured soldier, the young man, whose life hangs in the balance and I tremble for the other lives that might not survive with the release of people who will probably go back to doing what they did.
How do we teach love? How do we protect ourselves against hate? Why is this happening and why does this circle keep repeating it seems, endlessly? How do we get it right?

(3)
Richard S'Chevalier,
March 11, 2009 3:41 AM

How is it that there can be considerations to release terrorists? Such is an absolute insanity, and would cause death and suffering to mount throughout Israel. Those who commit acts of terrorism must never be allowed free so to murders and harm others. Actually, I see no reason for them being given anything less than a death sentence.

(2)
Anonymous,
March 9, 2009 5:19 PM

The terrorists in our prisons protects our citizens - and vice versa.

I fully agree with Sharon 9/3/2009. Couldn't have stated it better. Does Gilad (and and his family) want Gilad's freedom at the expense of hundreds of lives - those of his friends and other Israelis?

(1)
Sharon,
March 9, 2009 7:12 AM

You don't need to be a victim to use reason

Ron, I am sorry for your loss. I am in complete agreement with you concerning the prisoner exchange. Leaving these terrorists in prison is not an act of vengeance, it is simply the most direct way of protecting our citizens. If we could be assured that they would not engage in terrorism in the future, we would free them gladly. And while you are right that being a victim of terrorism does not give you more of a right to be heard, the fact is that in our society it does guarantee more of a listening ear. And with that fact I would urge you to use your reason to speak out on this important issue. Unfortunately you have the credentials to be heard. We cannot afford the price being demanded and we must not pay it. All other means of obtaining Gilad's freedom should be considered. But rejecting this proposal is imperative.

I live in rural Montana where the Cholov Yisrael milk is difficult to obtain and very expensive. So I drink regular milk. What is your view on this?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Jewish law requires that there be rabbinic supervision during the milking process to ensure that the milk comes from a kosher animal. In the United States, many people rely on the Department of Agriculture's regulations and controls as sufficiently stringent to fulfill the rabbinic requirement for supervision.

Most of the major Kashrut organizations in the United States rely on this as well. You will therefore find many kosher products in America certified with a 'D' next to the kosher symbol. Such products – unless otherwise specified on the label – are not Cholov Yisrael and are assumed kosher based on the DOA's guarantee.

There are many, however, do not rely on this, and will eat only dairy products that are designated as Cholov Yisrael (literally, "Jewish milk"). This is particularly true in large Jewish communities, where Cholov Yisrael is widely available.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote that under limited conditions, such as an institution which consumes a lot of milk and Cholov Yisrael is generally unavailable or especially expensive, American milk is acceptable, as the government supervision is adequate to prevent non-kosher ingredients from being added.

It should be added that the above only applies to milk itself, which is marketed as pure cow's milk. All other dairy products, such as cheeses and butter, may contain non-kosher ingredients and always require kosher certification. In addition, Rabbi Feinstein's ruling applies only in the United States, where government regulations are considered reliable. In other parts of the world, including Europe, Cholov Yisrael is a requirement.

There are additional esoteric reasons for being stringent regarding Cholov Yisrael, and because of this it is generally advisable to consume only Cholov Yisroel dairy foods.

In 1889, 800 Jews arrived in Buenos Aires, marking the birth of the modern Jewish community in Argentina. These immigrants were fleeing poverty and pogroms in Russia, and moved to Argentina because of its open door policy of immigration. By 1920, more than 150,000 Jews were living in Argentina. Juan Peron's rise to power in 1946 was an ominous sign, as he was a Nazi sympathizer with fascist leanings. Peron halted Jewish immigration to Argentina, introduced mandatory Catholic religious instruction in public schools, and allowed Argentina to become a haven for fleeing Nazis. (In 1960, Israeli agents abducted Adolf Eichmann from a Buenos Aires suburb.) Today, Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America with 250,000, though terror attacks have prompted many young people to emigrate. In 1992, the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 32 people. In 1994, the Jewish community headquarters in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 85 people. The perpetrators have never been apprehended.

Be aware of what situations and behaviors give you pleasure. When you feel excessively sad and cannot change your attitude, make a conscious effort to take some action that might alleviate your sadness.

If you anticipate feeling sad, prepare a list of things that might make you feel better. It could be talking to a specific enthusiastic individual, running, taking a walk in a quiet area, looking at pictures of family, listening to music, or reading inspiring words.

While our attitude is a major factor in sadness, lack of positive external situations and events play an important role in how we feel.

[If a criminal has been executed by hanging] his body may not remain suspended overnight ... because it is an insult to God (Deuteronomy 21:23).

Rashi explains that since man was created in the image of God, anything that disparages man is disparaging God as well.

Chilul Hashem, bringing disgrace to the Divine Name, is one of the greatest sins in the Torah. The opposite of chilul Hashem is kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the Divine Name. While this topic has several dimensions to it, there is a living kiddush Hashem which occurs when a Jew behaves in a manner that merits the respect and admiration of other people, who thereby respect the Torah of Israel.

What is chilul Hashem? One Talmudic author stated, "It is when I buy meat from the butcher and delay paying him" (Yoma 86a). To cause someone to say that a Torah scholar is anything less than scrupulous in meeting his obligations is to cause people to lose respect for the Torah.

Suppose someone offers us a business deal of questionable legality. Is the personal gain worth the possible dishonor that we bring not only upon ourselves, but on our nation? If our personal reputation is ours to handle in whatever way we please, shouldn't we handle the reputation of our nation and the God we represent with maximum care?

Jews have given so much, even their lives, for kiddush Hashem. Can we not forego a few dollars to avoid chilul Hashem?

Today I shall...

be scrupulous in all my transactions and relationships to avoid the possibility of bringing dishonor to my God and people.

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